Your Résumé May Get You In The Door, But …

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2016) — Functional skills may get you in the door for a job interview or job, but attitude, persistence and communication are what will set you apart and determine your success. That was the message Mike Moseley, veterinarian and director of Global Development & Operations for Zoetis, shared with an audience of college-aged students attending the 2016 Cattlemen’s College® breakout session. In its 23rd year, Cattlemen’s College was hosted as a precursor to the Cattle Industry Convention being convened Jan. 27-29 in San Diego, Calif.

“You must be able to do the job. That involves technical learning, competence, and the ability to problem-solve, plan and set priorities,” Moseley told attendees. But, he added, “Innovation requires looking beyond the obvious. There are creative ways to solve problems.”

He added, “Be flexible. If you’re not, you’re not employable.”

Regarding attitude, he noted that one study discovered 46% of all new hires will fail within the first 18 months, but 89% failed for attitude reasons, not technical skills. Moseley also shared this maxim: A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it.

Secondly, Moseley emphasizedhaving passion and persistence for your work. He offered this comparison: “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.”

To that Moseley also said, “My encouragement to you young people in ag, is that we need to be passionate about agriculture. If we don’t, we’re going to lose it. We need to have passion for feeding the world.”

Lastly, Moseley emphasized developing communication skills — written, oral, and presentation. He noted that it takes practice to hone these skills. As well, Moseley emphasized teamwork and the need to work with others. “We all have to work together to be successful,” he shared.

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